Happy football season, everyone! As
training camps around the league break and rosters are being determined,
kickoff weekend is nearly upon us. Every team in the league feels that they
have a shot at a ring right now (at least that’s what they say). Also,
every year about this time, you start to hear names being tossed around of
players that are primed to have breakout seasons. Now, when I say breakout,
I don’t necessarily mean stats. It may be someone who’s had the numbers in
the past, but, never got the notoriety he deserved. In 2006 we had players
such as Lee Evans, Steven Jackson, Jericho Cotchery and Asante Samuel ascend
into breakout status. Well, here’s a list of guys to look out for in 2007.
Trent Cole, DE,
Philadelphia The 3rd year pass rusher from
Cincinnati has claimed the starting RDE job in camp and I expect him to
seize the opportunity. After totaling 13 sacks in his first two seasons (5
in 2005, 8 in 2006), Cole should continue to build upon those numbers and
help bring the nasty back to the Eagle’s D. Cole’s not just a pass rusher,
either. He had 43 tkls and 1 int last year.
Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh
After a slow start to his 2006 rookie season, Holmes picked it up in the
second half of the season. He ended 2006 with 49 rec. for 824 yds. Holmes
also established himself as the Steelers main deep threat. Holmes displayed
is game breaking speed on the last play of the season when he took a short,
slant pass and outran the entire Bengal’s defense. As Ben Roethlisberger
looks to return to form, look for Holmes to bust out in 07.
Kerry Rhodes, SS, NY Jets
Now, the same thing that happened to Cardinals safety Adrian
Wilson may happen to Kerry Rhodes. He may have to put up 5 years of
outstanding work to finally get his just due. But, the fact that Rhodes
plays in the largest media market in the league leads me to think that he’ll
get noticed. Rhodes followed up a solid rookie campaign in ’05 with a great
2006 (75 tkl, 5 sk, 4 int, 3 ff). Rhodes will just get better and better as
the Jets defense does the same.
Vincent Jackson, WR, San Diego
The Chargers knew that Jackson would be a project when they
drafted him in the 2005 NFL Draft. That project started to pay off in the
second half of the ’06 season. Jackson put up some decent numbers (27 rec
for 453 yds, 6 TD) and became the Chargers’ go to WR last year. To bad the
Chargers have a go to RB and go to TE before they even think about going to
the WR’s. But as Phillip Rivers learns to spread the ball out more, watch
out for Vincent Jackson.
Tatum Bell, RB, Detroit
I already know what you’re saying. “If Tatum Bell couldn’t
breakout in the Denver running game, how would he do it in Detroit of all
places?” Well, Bell is the wildcard of this bunch. Think about it. With
Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey and Mike Martz, Bell has the parts
around him to take all the pressure off. Especially, with Kevin Jones still
recovering from a foot injury. Also, in December, instead of plowing
through the Colorado snow, he’ll be in a dome…on turf.
